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Arrested while taking $500 from grocery owner

Suspended East Orange Health Inspector Enock Moochi of Jersey City was indicted Thursday on charges that he solicited a bribe from the owner of a small grocery store.

State Criminal Justice Director Stephen J. Taylor said the state grand jury indictment charges Moochi, 52, with the second-degree crimes of official misconduct, bribery, and acceptance or receipt of an unlawful benefit by a public servant for official behavior.

Second-degree crimes carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in state prison, and Moochi, if convicted, would face a mandatory minimum sentence of five years without possibility of parole under New Jersey’s penalty enhancements for public corruption. The indictment stems from an investigation by the State Police and the Division of Criminal Justice.

Earlier this year, Moochi allegedly solicited a $1,000 bribe from the owner of a East Orange grocery store, telling the owner that, in return for the bribe, he would overlook health code violations that he had found, including food that had passed “sell by” expiration dates.

Moochi allegedly agreed to accept the bribe in two separate payments of $500. He allegedly received one $500 payment from the food mart owner on June 30. He allegedly received the second $500 payment on July 6. Moochi was arrested at the store by detectives of the State Police Official Corruption Bureau after he allegedly received the second payment from the owner. He was suspended after his arrest.

“Not only did this defendant allegedly enrich himself unlawfully through his official position, he did so by agreeing to ignore regulations meant to safeguard the public’s health,” state Attorney General Paula T. Dow. “He rightfully faces serious criminal charges in this indictment.”

“Misconduct of this type undermines public faith in government,” Taylor said. “We will continue to aggressively target corruption at all levels of government in order to send a strong deterrent message to those who would sell out their duties for personal gain.”

The indictment was handed up to state Superior Court Judge Pedro J. Jimenez Jr. in Trenton, who assigned the case to Essex County.

The case was presented to the grand jury by Deputy Attorney General Richard Queen. The investigation was conducted by Lt. Glenn Lubertazzi, Det. Sgt. First Class Geoffrey Forker, Det. Sgt. Lisa King, Det. Sgt. Mario DiRienzo, Det. Brian Murphy, Det. Oliver Sissman and Det. Pablo Castro of the State Police Official Corruption Bureau North Unit, and Queen.

—TOM HESTER SR., NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM